The Aitkin resident has 16 years of nursing experience and eight years of managing Riverwood’s diabetes education program to her new role.

During the past eight years, Magnuson has not only provided individual and group counseling to diabetes patients but coordinated monthly diabetes support groups and community outreach via numerous community health seminars on diabetes topics in Aitkin, Garrison and McGregor.

“Diabetes affects millions of people and it is critical that individuals living with this disease receive the education that they need to manage it effectively,” Magnuson said in a news release. “It has been a privilege developing the diabetes education program and I look forward to its continued growth under the direction of Lisa Kuklis, registered/licensed dietitian at Riverwood.”

Previously, Magnuson worked as a registered nurse at United Hospital in St. Paul where she worked in the telemetry medical/surgical units and labor and delivery. In addition to working in inpatient and outpatient settings there, she also provided diabetes education. She has been an instructor for the College of St. Scholastica nursing program for the past three years.

Magnuson earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth. Her professional interests include diabetes, chronic disease management and older adult care.

Scholarships are given to qualified applicants wishing to further their education and practice in the field of long-term care.

Each year, staff members from senior care centers across the state apply for the funds. This year, more than 60 applications were submitted, with 21 recipients receiving scholarships totaling $20,000.

“It is inspiring to see people like Rachel, who enjoy their work and want to continue with schooling,” says Jennifer Bergstrom, administrator at Good Samaritan Society – Woodland. “We are fortunate to have organizations like Care Providers encouraging more nursing students to explore this field of study.”

Rachel was presented with the scholarship at a recent resident, staff and family picnic.

Care Providers of Minnesota represents more than 600 proprietary, nonprofit, and government-owned providers of long-term care including nursing facilities, housing with services, assisted living, foster care, home care, and hospice. For more information on Care Providers of Minnesota, visit www.careproviders.org.

U.S. Bank surpasses

veteran hiring goal in 2012

U.S. Bank surpassed its military hiring goal for 2012, in time to mark the Veterans Day holiday.

U.S. Bank now employs more than 2,300 veterans nationwide, and continues in its efforts to recruit veterans.

“U.S. Bank is firmly committed to employing and supporting veterans, active-duty service members and their families,” said Richard Davis, chairman, president and chief executive officer of U.S. Bancorp, parent company of U.S. Bank, in a news release. “Veterans bring valuable leadership skills to their organization, with experience and perspective that strengthens our company. We honor them and all who serve on Veterans Day and every day, for their commitment to our country and protection of our freedom.”

In addition, this is the second consecutive year that U.S. Bank has been recognized by G.I. Jobs as a Top 100 Military Friendly Employer, which highlights companies for the strength of their military recruiting efforts, the percentage of new hires with prior military service and policies toward providing exemplary benefits for employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve. The ranking is featured in the magazine’s December issue and online at www.gijobs.com.

Also, U.S. Veterans Magazine listed U.S. Bank on its 2012 Best of the Best: Top 100 Companies Recruiting Veterans. The survey results are published in the November 2012 special Veterans Day edition. Last June, Military Times magazine named U.S. Bank as one of just 39 companies in its Best of Vets annual survey.

U.S. Bank achieved its hiring goals by implementing several recruiting and training programs specifically for veterans through its Proud to Serve program (http://proudtoserve.usbank.com).

In 2011, U.S. Bank launched a Military Leadership Development Program, which has resulted in several veterans successfully transitioning into leadership positions in the bank in Seattle and San Diego. The Military LDP is expanding to include Minneapolis, Los Angeles and Orange County, Calif. in 2013.

U.S. Bank enhanced its human resources policies for veterans in 2012, including offering employees up to two weeks paid leave to cover time they would otherwise take off unpaid, per state or federal law, in connection with a family member’s military service. Depending on state laws, the time can be taken not only with the deployment of a child, parent or spouse, but may be available to extended family as well.

U.S. Bank continued to offer customers special support through the U.S. Bank Military Service Center (800-934-9555), a dedicated customer service line for military members and their families that is staffed with bankers familiar with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. The Military Service Center is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to midnight Eastern Time, with back-up support from U.S. Bank 24-hour banking during off hours.

YourSix Communications

becomes ShoreTel partner

DEERWOOD — YourSix Communications, a Division of Deerwood Technologies Inc, announced it will begin selling and delivering ShoreTel Unified Communication solutions as a new Authorized Champion Partner.

■ DONATION

HealthSource Chiropractic

joins fight to end hunger

BAXTER — HealthSource Chiropractic and Progressive Rehab in Baxter joined the fight against hunger.

With 375 offices nationwide, the HealthSource franchise is offering first day services to new patients for the donation of canned food items.

■ EVENTS

Falls Optical to host

Friday Morning Coffee

LITTLE FALLS — The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce invites all chamber members, employees and guests to Falls Optical at Northern Eye Center, 119 First St. NE in Little Falls from 7:30-9 a.m. Nov. 16 for Friday Morning Coffee.

This is an excellent opportunity to kick off your weekend by joining us for a cup of coffee or two while making valuable business connections. Announcements and introductions will be at 8:15 a.m. Sponsoring this month is Falls Optical.

■ WORKSHOPS

IRA seminar planned

at B & I Center

The Business and Industry Center of Central Lakes College, Brainerd, will host an individual retirement account (IRA) seminar from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 29 in the B & I Center.

The seminar, which will cover 2012 conversion rules and how they change in 2013, will be led by Michael Nelson.

Nelson will outline the new rules, the differences between roll overs, transfers and direct rollovers, death distributions, how to handle excess contributions and re-characterizations, the importance of understanding beneficiaries and why inherited IRA’s are so valuable to beneficiaries.

I've worked at the Brainerd Dispatch with various duties since Dec. 7, 1983. Starting off as an Ad Designer and currently Director of Audience Development. The Dispatch has been an interesting and challenging place to work. I'm fortunate to have made many friends, both co-workers and customers.